Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 69

“I heard you’ve been busy lately—are you all right?”

Though she was the one who’d sent the invitation, Lady Basque wore a worried expression. She probably thought I’d refuse it anyway and had only sent it out of politeness.

It was true I’d declined invitations recently, but since I was planning to enroll in the academy, I hadn’t intended to cut ties completely.

I fixed a now-familiar smile onto my face and spoke gently.

“That’s precisely why I came to see you, Lady Basque. Isn’t spending time with people you care about the truest form of rest?”

Even I had to admit my flattery had grown considerably smoother lately. A soft chuckle answered my words, and the atmosphere instantly grew warmer.

After that, everyone took turns catching me up on their news, since I hadn’t shown myself for quite a while.

Since I had only one goal for today, I didn’t rush. Instead, I listened patiently to each child’s updates and offered thoughtful replies while waiting for the right moment.

My patience paid off—the opportunity arrived sooner than expected.

“Among us, Princess Blanche will be the first to enter high society.”

In the Empire, debutantes typically made their formal debut at seventeen. However, since families couldn’t keep their children secluded until then, close-knit noble houses often arranged tea parties for their children to socialize—though such gatherings weren’t officially counted as part of high society.

Thus, Lady Dwyers’ statement was accurate.

“But isn’t it too early? His Grace the Grand Duke surely doesn’t need to rush the debut. Wouldn’t it have been better if Princess Blanche debuted at fifteen and His Grace at seventeen?”

Such a conversation could only happen in this informal setting among children. In formal society, questioning the Imperial family’s decisions like this could easily give someone grounds to criticize you.

What made this remark so innocent was that it stemmed from genuine curiosity, not malice—likely due to their family’s scholarly atmosphere, where academic pursuits mattered more than age.

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